Data management system, data management method, and data management apparatus

Abstract

A data management system, which is implemented by one or more information processing apparatuses, includes a program storage unit that stores an operation management program, a generating unit that embeds the operation management program in first data and thereby generates second data including the operation management program. When an operation is performed on the second data at an external apparatus, the operation management program sends operation information indicating the operation from the external apparatus to the data management system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A data management system implemented by one or more information processing apparatuses, the data management system comprising:
 a program storage unit that stores an operation management program for controlling whether to hide or make visible display contents of data; 
 a generating unit that embeds the operation management program in first data and thereby generates second data including the first data and the operation management program embedded therein, display contents of the first data in the generated second data being hidden by the operation management program, 
 wherein when an operation is performed on the second data at an external apparatus, the operation management program sends operation information indicating the operation from the external apparatus to the data management system. 
 
     
     
       2. The data management system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reception unit that receives the operation information from the external apparatus; and 
 a history storage unit that stores the operation information received by the reception unit. 
 
     
     
       3. The data management system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a response unit that sends a response to a connection confirmation request sent from the external apparatus where the second data is stored, 
 wherein when a connection between the external apparatus and the data management system is confirmed based on the response sent from the response unit, the operation management program makes the hidden display contents of the first data visible. 
 
     
     
       4. The data management system as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a display permission information storage unit that stores, in association with address information, permission information indicating whether to allow the external apparatus corresponding to the address information to display the display contents of the first data, wherein 
 the response unit refers to the display permission information storage unit based on sender address information of the confirmation request to determine whether the external apparatus is allowed to display the display contents of the first data; and 
 when the external apparatus is not allowed to display the display contents of the first data, the response unit sends the response that requests the operation management program to not make the display contents of the first data visible. 
 
     
     
       5. The data management system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the operation management program hides the display contents of the first data by masking the display contents of the first data, and makes the display contents of the first data visible by unmasking the display contents of the first data. 
     
     
       6. The data management system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an obtaining unit that analyzes the first data to obtain the display contents of the first data; and 
 a management target information storage unit that stores information indicating whether the display contents of the first data are an operation management target, 
 wherein when the display contents of the first data are determined to be the operation management target based on the information stored in the management target information storage unit, the generating unit generates the second data. 
 
     
     
       7. A method performed by a data management system implemented by one or more information processing apparatuses, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by the data management system, an operation management program from a program storage unit, the operation management program being for controlling whether to hide or make visible display contents of data; 
 embedding, by the data management system, the operation management program in first data to generate second data including the first data and the operation management program embedded therein, display contents of the first data in the generated second data being hidden by the operation management program, 
 wherein when an operation is performed on the second data at an external apparatus, the operation management program sends operation information indicating the operation from the external apparatus to the data management system. 
 
     
     
       8. The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the data management system, the operation information sent from the external apparatus; and 
 storing, by the data management system, the received operation information in a history storage unit. 
 
     
     
       9. The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 sending, by the data management system, a response to a connection confirmation request sent from the external apparatus where the second data is stored, 
 wherein when a connection between the external apparatus and the data management system is confirmed based on the response, the operation management program makes the hidden display contents of the first data visible. 
 
     
     
       10. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining, by the data management system, whether the external apparatus is allowed to display the display contents of the first data by referring to a display permission information storage unit based on sender address information of the confirmation request, the display permission information storage unit storing, in association with address information, permission information indicating whether to allow the external apparatus corresponding to the address information to display the display contents of the second first data, 
 wherein when the external apparatus is not allowed to display the display contents of the first data, the data management system sends the response that requests the operation management program to not make the display contents of the first data visible. 
 
     
     
       11. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the operation management program hides the display contents of the first data by masking the display contents of the first data, and makes the display contents of the first data visible by unmasking the display contents of the first data. 
     
     
       12. The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 analyzing, by the data management system, the first data to obtain the display contents of the first data; and 
 determining, by the data management system, whether the obtained display contents of the first data are an operation management target by referring to a management target information storage unit that stores information indicating whether the display contents of the first data are the operation management target, 
 wherein the second data is generated when the obtained display contents of the first data are determined to be the operation management target. 
 
     
     
       13. A data management apparatus, comprising:
 a program storage unit that stores an operation management program for controlling whether to hide or make visible display contents of data; 
 a generating unit that embeds the operation management program in first data and thereby generates second data including the first data and the operation management program embedded therein, display contents of the first data in the generated second data being hidden by the operation management program, 
 wherein when an operation is performed on the second data at an external apparatus, the operation management program sends operation information indicating the operation from the external apparatus to the data management apparatus. 
 
     
     
       14. The data management apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a reception unit that receives the operation information from the external apparatus; and 
 a history storage unit that stores the operation information received by the reception unit. 
 
     
     
       15. The data management apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a response unit that sends a response to a connection confirmation request sent from the external apparatus where the second data is stored, 
 wherein when a connection between the external apparatus and the data management apparatus is confirmed based on the response sent from the response unit, the operation management program makes the hidden display contents of the first data visible. 
 
     
     
       16. The data management apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a display permission information storage unit that stores, in association with address information, permission information indicating whether to allow the external apparatus corresponding to the address information to display the display contents of the first data, wherein 
 the response unit refers to the display permission information storage unit based on sender address information of the confirmation request to determine whether the external apparatus is allowed to display the display contents of the first data; and 
 when the external apparatus is not allowed to display the display contents of the first data, the response unit sends the response that requests the operation management program to not make the display contents of the first data visible. 
 
     
     
       17. The data management apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the operation management program hides the display contents of the first data by masking the display contents of the first data, and makes the display contents of the first data visible by unmasking the display contents of the first data. 
     
     
       18. The data management apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an obtaining unit that analyzes the first data to obtain the display contents of the first data; and 
 a management target information storage unit that stores information indicating whether the display contents of the first data are an operation management target, 
 wherein when the display contents of the first data are determined to be the operation management target based on the information stored in the management target information storage unit, the generating unit generates the second data.